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Inspire
July 2026
Co-Production Edition
Welcome to the July 2026 edition of Inspire
July is always an exciting and busy time of year for me. Not just because of strawberry season, sunshine and Wimbledon, but also because of Co-Production Week (always on the first week of July) which brings a real sense of community to the month.
In this issue, we explore what Co-Production means and what it looks like at MFT. We’ll hear about the work of our Advisory Group and Co-Production Champions, as well as our wider work across the system.
I hope you learn something new from this newsletter and that, by the end, Co-Production feels a little less complicated. If you’re interested in learning more about it, or would like to get involved with the Advisory Group, please do get in touch.
Megan, Co-Production Lead
What is Co-Production and what does it mean
for Mary Frances Trust?
Co-Production is about making sure that the people who are impacted or affected by a decision or change are included in the decision-making process.
Some examples may look like:
- Working together on how the Advisory Group communicates and operates.
- Creating a Co-Production skill development programme for staff.
- Building our very own process to explain how we co-produce at MFT.
Each project benefits greatly from having multiple perspectives and experiences in the room.
You may have noticed some changes happening on our website, and we now have updated our co-production webpages!
Meet our Advisory Group
We’re actively looking for lived experience advisors who work together with staff, Trustees, and other volunteers to provide a non-clinical lived experience perspective and support the strategic direction of Mary Frances Trust.
Advisory Group members are Surrey-residents who contribute to MFT projects and discussions, primarily informed by their lived experience and (where relevant) additional professional experience, to support and shape Mary Frances Trust and wider community support.
Advisory Group meetings take place on the first Tuesday of every month with alternating times and locations:
- 10:00-11:15am on Zoom
- 5:00-6:15pm on Zoom
- 1:30–3.30pm at 23 The Crescent, Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 8DY
Last year, MFT re-established what was then known as Surrey Mental Health Co-Production Network as a space for professionals working within Co-Production to come together, support each other, and learn.
The Network is hosting Collaborate Surrey in October, the first (of what we hope to be many) celebratory Co-Production event in this format.
Meet our Co-Production Champions
Our Co-Production Champion programme provides staff and Trustees with dedicated time and space to explore Co-Production and learn how to embed it into their day-to-day.
Interested staff and Trustees put themselves forward to volunteer for this additional commitment alongside their role, and applications re-open each summer.
In short, they:
- Serve as a link between their team and wider Co-Production work.
- Support our Co-Production Lead to bring together perspectives from across the organisation.
- Get involved in Co-Production workshops and projects.
“Since becoming a Co-production Champion, applying the principles of co-production has become a conscious and consistent part of my everyday practice.
It’s encouraged me to look beyond immediate solutions and consider how a wider range of people can contribute their expertise, lived experience and creativity to achieve better outcomes.”
Annabelle, MFT Co-Production Champion
How our Co-Production Champions use it in their everyday
Annabelle, our Banstead Social Prescriber and Co-Production Champion, recently brought together our Advisory Group, steering groups from the Good Company, and our Banstead Art Group, to shape the Banstead Mental Wellbeing Map into a more inclusive community resource.
What began as an idea to create a map of local support within three miles of central Banstead, has become a collaborative project with lived experience at the centre, getting people to think whose voices should help shape community resources and how support can be broader than physical buildings and services.
As a result, the project became far richer, and more ambitious than originally envisioned. By bringing together people with different experiences, skills and perspectives, we not only improved the quality of the resource but also expanded its potential impact. It was a powerful reminder that some of the best ideas emerge when we create opportunities for people to shape solutions together.
Our recent Co-Production Workshops
Over June and July 2026, our Co-Production Champions, staff and Trustees came together for two full-day Co-Production workshops. Together, we explored how we can strengthen our Co-Production process at MFT and identify meaningful ways to measure the difference it makes.
These days included collaborative discussions, sharing ideas and experiences, and exploring how we can work alongside clients, staff, volunteers and the wider community to shape and improve our services together.
We also took time to connect with nature during a guided walk through ancient woodland, reflecting on the importance of wellbeing, connection and creating space for meaningful conversations.
Co-Production is more than consultation, it’s about working together as equal partners, recognising the value of lived experience, and making better decisions through collaboration.
How YOU can support Co-Production at MFT!
If you’d like to share your views, ask questions, use your lived experience to shape the decisions we make, raise awareness of mental health in your local community and be part of the change you want to see in Surrey, there are many ways for you to get involved in Co-Production at MFT, including:
- Join the Advisory Group.
- Become a Member of MFT so you can ask us questions, share your views and vote at our Annual General Meeting (AGM).
- Share your feedback at any time using the Contact form on our website.
- Share your feedback at any time by calling our main office at 01372 375 400 or texting 07929 024722 (open Mon-Fri, 9am-4pm).
- Share your lived experience by writing a blog for us – email us at communications@maryfrancestrust.org.uk or call 01372 375 400 to discuss your ideas! Training can be provided.
“You might not realise you’ve already taken part in Co-Production. Every time you complete our feedback forms, attend our Annual General Meeting (AGM), or take part in a survey like our newsletter survey, you’re helping shape what we do.”
Mental Health Tip
We asked Kat, our Mental Health Safeguarding and Clinical Supervision Lead and one of our Co-Production Champions, for a mental wellbeing tip.
“I love being outside and I use the outdoors to help ground myself. When life feels overwhelming, I often return to something simple: my senses.
Grounding yourself through the five senses is like taking a gentle walk along the shoreline or a quiet path through the countryside – it brings you back to the present moment.”
How to ground yourself using your Five Senses
Start by noticing what you can see.
Picture the soft roll of waves or a stretch of green fields under an open sky.
Tune into what you can hear.
The distant call of seabirds or rustling leaves.
Notice what you can feel.
The texture of sand between your fingers or the cool breeze against your skin.
Next, focus on scent.
Perhaps the salty sea air or the earthy smell after rain.
Finally, bring your attention to taste.
Even a sip of tea can anchor you in the moment.
If I can’t leave my home, I often look at videos or photos to draw me back to a time when I was able to be outside and visualise these things.
We’ll be back soon!
In the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing information about our Annual General Meeting (AGM) and how to become of Member of MFT in September.
Our next edition of Inspire will return in October. Stay tuned!
